Here’s the third installment of the Mystery Stole 3 in all it’s glory. (Please excuse the uber crappy photo. I have to figure out a better way to take stole pictures.)
I started the clue the day it came out (Friday) and finished it that night. There’s something about the design that begs me to continue on until there is no more to be done.
It took me a few rows to get back into the rhythm of the stole as there were some minor setbacks. I miscounted a few times. Luckily I caught the mistakes while on the same row, so I only had to tink back a few stitches at a time.
I think that’s the problem with putting down a project for long periods at a time. I tend to lose my momentum and then I stagger to gain it back when I pick it back up.
I though that maybe working with black yarn would prove a challenge, but with the aid of my OTT-Lite, I haven’t had the slightest bit of trouble. The OTT-Lite has been my best investment when it comes to knitting tools. I just couldn’t live without it.
You might have noticed that I don’t use lifelines. The reason for this is not that I don’t believe they don’t serve a vital purpose. Only whenever I used them, I found that I inevitably made a mistake in the vicinity of the lifeline. And since the lifeline would obscure the knitting, I’d miss the mistake when I tried to read the knitting. I also find it easier to just ladder down to fix said mistake. Jackie E-S has an excellent tutorial on how to go about doing this.
There has been a flurry of guesses on what the theme might be for this year’s stole, but so far I haven’t the slightest idea on what it might be. I do think it has an Oriental flavor to it.
Would you like to venture a guess? The only hints I have are that it would not be suitable for a bride and that it has nothing to do with Harry Potter.
Sue J. on 17 Jul 2007 at 11:11 am #
Lovely! And I agree with you about lifelines. I make more mistakes using them than not. So far I haven’t had any problems without them.
keohinani on 17 Jul 2007 at 11:41 am #
haha…not suitable for a bride and nothing to do with harry potter?! those are your hints!? that’s funny. pretty stole! i wonder why it’s called stole…is it because they’re so pretty that they’ve been stolen? i don’t know. it’s only TUESDAY! two more days til THURSDAY! whee!
Dee on 17 Jul 2007 at 1:43 pm #
I don’t have any guesses, but it sure is a pretty stole.
Peggy on 17 Jul 2007 at 1:43 pm #
It is quite lovely. Your bead choice is excellent. They show nicely in the photo.
Debi on 17 Jul 2007 at 2:54 pm #
It sure is pretty whatever the theme! I
debbie on 17 Jul 2007 at 5:08 pm #
the pattern looks so intricate, but beautiful!
Hattie on 17 Jul 2007 at 5:43 pm #
It’s beautiful!!! My only guess was Othello, oh and scarab beetles lol. I gave up though because I don’t care what the theme is. I just love the stole.
Jen on 17 Jul 2007 at 10:09 pm #
Nice work, that shawl is coming along very nicely. Munchie hopped up on the couch while I was getting something to drink and since he couldn’t find the end of the yarn, he chomped himself one. I realized what I had done whilst pouring my drink and got back to the living room to see him ingesting the yarn like he was a sewing machine or something. It wasn’t until after I fixed the yarn and started knitting that I discovered he’d taken some chomps out of the needles too. I can still use them, but it’d be best to invest in some new ones.
Robbyn on 18 Jul 2007 at 2:47 am #
Well now, that was worth waiting for :) Very nice indeed. I’m afraid I have no guesses on the theme though…Thai maybe?
I have never used a life-line though I understand their worth theoretically. But I’m with you on the laddering down to fix whatever and then just crocheting back up. Man, the first time I did that successfully I thought that maybe I could cure a rainy day too! What a rush…
textillian on 18 Jul 2007 at 4:13 am #
I would like to use one of my lifelines, Regis….
Actually, today is the first time I have heard of such a thing in knitting. While watching Knitty Gritty this morning, they didn’t use that term, but that is essentially what they later were using it for. Interesting.
The stole looks beautiful.
Roseann on 18 Jul 2007 at 7:30 am #
Your shawl is amazingly beautiful, I love the beads and the yarn. I do not use lifelines either and used to regret till I read your informative explanation, now I don’t feel so badly. I know what you mean about putting something down and losing the rhythm, happens to me a lot, too.
Meredith on 18 Jul 2007 at 8:00 am #
That is stunning! So dramatic. I love my color choice (Zephyr in “Curry” with amber beads), but the black REALLY shows off the pattern. I use lifelines sometimes but haven’t with this stole…but did you see Melanie’s Special Notice today that she advises everyone to put a lifeline in row 287???? VERY interesting. I can scarcely wait to see why.
hugggggggggssssss
mm
Meredith on 18 Jul 2007 at 8:04 am #
It’s me again, Opal…what model is your OTT-Lite? I’m interested in getting one and would like a review if you wouldn’t mind…you can email me.
Thanks, hon,
meredith the catknitter
lobstah on 18 Jul 2007 at 9:48 am #
Oh, it has a theme, does it? For some reason it looks Arabian or Indian in style to me–maybe the Alhambra or the Taj Mahal?
Dipsy D. on 18 Jul 2007 at 8:18 pm #
Oh my gosh, this looks so good already, and what a great bead choice! As for a theme, I’m at a total loss here, but what Lobstah said about Arabian or Indian, this could really be true! It’s awesome nonetheless!
Aim on 19 Jul 2007 at 1:54 am #
Wow, Opal, you’ve done amazing. I have no guesses, but it sure is beautiful. And thanks so much for the link to lace-knit repair; I’m bookmarking that one! Love your shawl so far :)
knitnana on 19 Jul 2007 at 4:49 am #
That is going to be one stunning shawl! I haven’t had the nerve to do something in black, but I’m getting there. Your’s is an inspiration!
(((hugs)))
Alison on 19 Jul 2007 at 9:59 am #
Beautiful!!
fleegle on 19 Jul 2007 at 10:19 am #
Wow! That is something! My eyes! Fell out!
Kate on 19 Jul 2007 at 11:24 am #
It looks great, mine is on the way to be ripped, made a mistake, and saw it several rounds after. Well, well, nothing to do with that.
Laughingrat on 20 Jul 2007 at 1:45 pm #
Not suitable for a bride…hmm.
I’m thinking fairy tales, but “Bluebeard,” well, that would be blue, and she said black and/or white was most appropriate. And also, “Bluebeard” is super creepy. Bleurgh.
Fairy tales. Hmm. Someone already guessed “Snow White” and was denied, right? Plus, if Melanie was picking up on the color references in the opening of that story, she’d probably have said that red was also a good color.
I’m stumped. I never guess this stuff correctly, though.
Barb on 20 Jul 2007 at 8:32 pm #
Looking very good!